Who May Be Liable in a Flight School Accident?
Flight schools play a very important role in training the next generation of pilots. Unfortunately, in some cases, accidents at a flight school can have serious or fatal consequences not only for enrolled students but also for others affected by an aircraft accident.
When a flight school accident occurs, it becomes important to understand who can be held legally responsible so you can take appropriate action if you or your loved one was harmed. Slack Davis can help you to understand your rights, identify liable parties, and pursue a claim for damages.
To find out more about how an aviation accident lawyer can help you, give us a call or contact us online today. You can schedule a free consultation with our legal team, or you can read on to learn about liability for accidents that occur when a flight school is involved.
The Student May Be Held Liable
Being a student does not necessarily absolve a new pilot of responsibility when their actions cause an accident to occur.
If the student pilot is flying on a dual flight with the certified flight instructor, the flight instructor typically acts as the pilot in command and would generally be primarily responsible when something goes wrong.
However, liability may be shared with the student pilot in many circumstances, especially if the student acts recklessly or ignores the pilot in command’s instructions.
If the student has been signed off for solo flights, the student becomes the pilot in command and becomes primarily responsible for accidents, although the instructor can still be held responsible if they share part of the blame.
The Instructor May Be Held Liable
A Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) can be held legally liable in circumstances when their negligence or wrongdoing is the cause of an aviation accident. This can occur on a dual flight when the CFI is the designated pilot in command.
The CFI can also be legally liable if they endorse a student for solo flight or if they fail to identify a pre-flight error. Failing to follow standard operating procedures, such as training regulations established by the Federal Aviation Administration, could also result in the instructor being held legally responsible for resulting losses.
The Flight School Itself May Be Held Liable
In some cases, a flight school can be held responsible for an accident.
While courts in many states generally don’t hold flight schools responsible for general educational malpractice or a general failure to provide a student with adequate education, the school can still be held legally responsible for vicarious liability for its instructors or for its own negligent policies and procedures that lead to an incident.
How is Liability Determined?
Whether you are hoping to pursue a claim against the flight school, the instructor, the student, or any other party who may be liable for your losses, the key is showing:
- The defendant had a duty or obligation to you
- The defendant breached the legal duty
- Your harm occurred as a direct result of the breach
- You were damaged due to the defendant’s failures
Slack Davis brings decades of aviation accident experience to every case, and we’ll help you gather the evidence you need to prove your claim.
Contact a Flight School Accident Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love was hurt in a flight school accident, Slack Davis will fight for you. Give us a call or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with a flight school accident attorney today.